AS I write this letter, I have been listening for over five hours to a house alarm on the opposite side of the street.

It went off at 3.30pm and when I contacted the developer, Holden Homes, around 4pm, I was assured that the alarm was on a battery system and it would cease within 30 minutes.

It is now 9.30pm and still the thing is blaring away.

When, I ask, is the law going to be changed so that officials can get in to turn these alarms off?

And why are estate agents, who must have keys to houses on their books, or the owner of the premises not liable to a fine if, after a reasonable time, the alarm is not switched off.

Can somebody please tell me why we must suffer a severe disturbance of the peace, especially at night?

G WINKLESS, Royds Street, Accrington.

FOOTNOTE: A spokesman at developers Holden Homes, who declined to give his name, said: "The lady rang our estate agent, Philip Holbrook, in Accrington. He rang me and said if I got a call from a householder or the police he had confirmed that the alarm would knock off as it is on a battery."

The spokesman added that he had heard nothing further about the matter until contacted by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

Estate agent Philip Holbrook said the alarm was not switched on and was triggered by an unexpected electricity cut.

He said: "The police informed me the battery would soon run itself down. I did not know a battery lasted that long."

They had received no further phone calls about the alarm.

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